In his recently delivered budget, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond touched on two important political issues: women (especially pertinent today of all days, International Women’s Day) and Education (which Donald Trump also addressed in his first speech to Congress recently).
Women
Hammond is admirably funding the fight against violence against girls with £20 million, as well as £5 million towards what is being referred to as “returnships,” which is when people have taken a break from work and want to get back into it. Another £5 million will be invested into project celebrating the 1918 Representation of the People Act.
Education
Hammond is yet to publish a white paper on what he intends to do about education, but he has promised to do so. The total number of free schools is being increased by 110 to 500, receiving £320 million’s worth of funding from the Government. The budget also allows for free school transport, which includes free school meals for kids at certain schools. School maintenance will receive an investment of £216 million from the government.
